Job Summary
We are looking to recruit an enthusiastic and committed assistant psychologist who will contribute to the existing team of psychological professionals. (sitting within the Calderdale Core Team), providing a secondary care psychological service to the working age adult population within the Calderdale locality. The Calderdale Core team is a collaborative adult mental health team, comprised of mental health nurses, occupational therapists, psychiatrists, support workers and clinical and counselling psychologists and psychotherapists. We are embracing trauma informed practice and exciting developments in mental health community transformation.
Within your role your role, you will support psychological professionals in the delivery of direct psychological therapy (particularly group work) as well as offering some direct 1-1 work. You will also support psychological ways of working across the Core team.
All employees of the Trust are strongly encouraged to have their up-to-date flu vaccination to protect staff and patients.
Main duties of the job
The person appointed will have a psychology degree (2.1 minimum and eligible for graduate basis for charted membership (GBC) with the British Psychological Society) or a masters degree in psychology. Experience of working with people who experience mental health difficulties, learning difficulties or psychological/behavioural problems is essential. A basic understanding of psychopathology and ability/experience in interviewing clients is required. Knowledge of research methodology, computer literacy, experience of data analysis, and a high level of written communication skills are required.
The service has good access to the regional post qualification training scheme and good links with the University of Leeds Doctoral Training course in clinical psychology, to which it regularly provides clinical placements to doctoral trainees.
For further information, please contact Dr Ruth Hunter (Principal Clinical Psychologist) or Jo Robinson (Consultant Clinical Psychologist) on 01422 262377.
Please note that if there is a high volume of applications received, we reserve the right to close this advert early.
At the time of advertising, this role does not meet the minimum requirements (salary threshold or occupational requirements) set by UK Visas and Immigration to sponsor candidates to work in the UK. For this reason, unfortunately we are unable to sponsor anyone on a visa for this role at this moment in time.
About Us
We are a specialist NHS Foundation Trust that provides community, mental health and learning disability services for the people of Barnsley, Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield. We also provide low and medium secure services and are the lead for the west Yorkshire secure provider collaborative.
Our mission is to help people reach their potential and live well in their communities, we do this by providing high-quality care in the right place at the right time. We employ staff in both clinical and non-clinical services who work hard to make a difference to the lives of service users, families and carers.
We encourage and welcome applications from all protected characteristic groups, we value diversity and want our workforce to be reflective of our communities.
Being a foundation Trust means were accountable to our members, who can have a say in how were run. Around 14,300 local people (including staff) are members of our Trust.
Join us and you will be one of over 4,500 staff committed to supporting and improving the mental, physical and social needs of the thousands of people we meet and help each year.
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all colleagues and volunteers to share this commitment.
We do reserve to right to close vacancy before the advertised closing date if necessary, so please apply as soon as possible.
Details
Date posted
17 September 2026
Pay scheme
Agenda for change
Band
Band 4
Salary
£28,392 to £31,157 a year Pro Rata
Contract
Permanent
Working pattern
Part-time, Flexible working
Reference number
C9378-CK2558
Job locations
Laura Mitchell Health and Wellbeing Centre
Great Albion Street
Halifax
HX1 1YR
United Kingdom
Job Description
Job responsibilities
JOB SUMMARY
This job description is an outline of the main duties of the post. The postholder will be required to undertake other duties commensurate with the grade as directed.
The content of this post will be reviewed in consultation with the postholder when necessary and in line with the service developments.
To support and enhance the professional psychological care of clients within the service, across all sectors of care; providing psychological assessment and psychological interventions under the supervision of a HCPC registered Practitioner Psychologist, working independently according to a plan agreed with a HCPC Registered Practitioner Psychologist and within the overall framework of the teams policies and procedures. To assist in clinically related administration, conduct of audits, collection of statistics, and development of audit and / or research projects, teaching and project work.
Clinical:
KEY RESULT AREAS:
- To undertake protocol based psychological assessments of clients applying psychological theory, including neuropsychological tests, self-report measures, rating scales, direct and indirect structured observations and semi-structured interviews with clients, family members and others involved in the clients care.
- To assist in the formulation and delivery of care plans involving the psychological treatment and / or management of a clients problems, under the supervision of a HCPC registered Practitioner Psychologist.
- To assist in the coordination and running of therapeutic groups or clinical projects.
- To work with other staff to assess community patients and review their care in preparation for multi-disciplinary reviews.
- To assist in the development of a psychological based framework of understanding and care to the benefit of all clients of the service, across all settings where care takes place.
- To attend and contribute to appropriate multi-disciplinary meetings.
- To respect diversity. To treat everyone with dignity and respect and act in ways that acknowledge and recognise peoples expressed beliefs, preferences and choices.
IT Responsibilities (clinical)
- To use highly developed IT skills.
- To access knowledge through Internet searches (e.g. Psych.Lit, Medline) to keep up to date with clinical and professional development
- For the preparation and presentation of materials of effective teaching and training (e.g. power point, graphic representations) to record and analyse data for research and audit (e.g. databases, spreadsheets, statistical analysis packages e.g. SPPS).
- To create graphs or charts to collate or summarise data on individual interventions or treatment programmes.
- To assist in producing visual or material or user friendly information for interventions with clients.
For Full Job Description, Please See Attached Supporting Documents.
We are aware that an increasing number of applicants are using AI technology to generate responses on NHS Job application forms. Over reliance on AI-generated content in application forms is strongly discouraged and we will conduct a thorough screening process before selecting candidates to progress to the next stage. If you are using AI to enhance your application, please disclose this in your NHS Jobs application form.
For Full Job Description, Please See Attached Supporting Documents.
We are aware that an increasing number of applicants are using AI technology to generate responses on NHS Job application forms. Over reliance on AI-generated content in application forms is strongly discouraged and we will conduct a thorough screening process before selecting candidates to progress to the next stage. If you are using AI to enhance your application, please disclose this in your NHS Jobs application form.
Person Specification
Training
Desirable
- Further post-graduate training in relevant areas of professional psychology, mental health practice and/or research design and analysis.
Qualifications
Essential
- An Honours degree in Psychology (2:1).
- Entitlement to graduate membership of the British Psychological Society.
Special Knowledge & Skills
Essential
- High level communication skills (written and verbal) including an ability to communicate and work in settings in which the atmosphere may be highly emotive.
- Ability to communicate sensitive information to patients, carers and colleagues in a way that addresses psychological resistance.
- Ability to communicate information which may be perceived as contentious to patients, carers and colleagues in a manner that promotes understanding and acceptance.
- An understanding of the needs and difficulties of people with mental health problems, learning disabilities and/or other disabilities.
- An ability to apply existing psychological knowledge to health and social service contexts.
- An understanding of psychology applied to health care.
Desirable
- Experience using computers for databases or data-analysis.
- Experience using microcomputers for databases or data analysis especially SPSS for Windows.
- High standard of report writing.
Experience
Essential
- Practical experience of working with people with mental health problems and/or learning disabilities and/or psychological/behavioural/ neurological problems.
Desirable
- Experience of paid work in direct care provision, particularly in the care group of the specialty of this post.
- Experience of administering and scoring neuropsychological assessments.
Physical Attributes
Essential
- Ability to undertake the duties and demands of the post. A satisfactory sickness record over the previous 2 years (subject to the need to act with fairness and equality of opportunity, particularly where the sickness is related to a disability and/or pregnancy).
Personal Attributes
Essential
- An ability to interact effectively with staff from all disciplines.
- An ability to interact effectively with people with mental health problems or learning disabilities.
- Ability to work independently, reliably and consistently with work agreed and managed at regular intervals.
- Ability to accept and use supervision appropriately and effectively.
- Able to travel throughout the catchment area, without unnecessary delays.
- Ability to travel around the Trust as appropriate to the role.
Desirable
- An interest in working with people with mental health problems.
- A desire to explore a career in Professional Psychology.
Person Specification
Training
Desirable
- Further post-graduate training in relevant areas of professional psychology, mental health practice and/or research design and analysis.
Essential
- An Honours degree in Psychology (2:1).
- Entitlement to graduate membership of the British Psychological Society.
Special Knowledge & Skills
Essential
- High level communication skills (written and verbal) including an ability to communicate and work in settings in which the atmosphere may be highly emotive.
- Ability to communicate sensitive information to patients, carers and colleagues in a way that addresses psychological resistance.
- Ability to communicate information which may be perceived as contentious to patients, carers and colleagues in a manner that promotes understanding and acceptance.
- An understanding of the needs and difficulties of people with mental health problems, learning disabilities and/or other disabilities.
- An ability to apply existing psychological knowledge to health and social service contexts.
- An understanding of psychology applied to health care.
Desirable
- Experience using computers for databases or data-analysis.
- Experience using microcomputers for databases or data analysis especially SPSS for Windows.
- High standard of report writing.
Essential
- Practical experience of working with people with mental health problems and/or learning disabilities and/or psychological/behavioural/ neurological problems.
Desirable
- Experience of paid work in direct care provision, particularly in the care group of the specialty of this post.
- Experience of administering and scoring neuropsychological assessments.
Physical Attributes
Essential
- Ability to undertake the duties and demands of the post. A satisfactory sickness record over the previous 2 years (subject to the need to act with fairness and equality of opportunity, particularly where the sickness is related to a disability and/or pregnancy).
Personal Attributes
Essential
- An ability to interact effectively with staff from all disciplines.
- An ability to interact effectively with people with mental health problems or learning disabilities.
- Ability to work independently, reliably and consistently with work agreed and managed at regular intervals.
- Ability to accept and use supervision appropriately and effectively.
- Able to travel throughout the catchment area, without unnecessary delays.
- Ability to travel around the Trust as appropriate to the role.
Desirable
- An interest in working with people with mental health problems.
- A desire to explore a career in Professional Psychology.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Employer details
Employer name
South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Trust
Address
Laura Mitchell Health and Wellbeing Centre
Great Albion Street
Halifax
HX1 1YR
United Kingdom
Employer's website
https://www.southwestyorkshire.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)
Employer details
Employer name
South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Trust
Address
Laura Mitchell Health and Wellbeing Centre
Great Albion Street
Halifax
HX1 1YR
United Kingdom
Employer's website
https://www.southwestyorkshire.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)
